Summary

Description

Marsh and water management activities have been conducted for nearly thirty years at Back Bay NWR. Annual programs were submitted for many years. In the early 1970s the management effort was deemphasized due to the shift to administration of the Motor Vehicle Access Permit Program. In the early 1970s when annual programs were nonexistent, managers apparently carried out water level manipulations and management activities based on the memories and knowledge of the staff maintenance. In 1985 an annual program was prepared which basically outlined the current management regime. The 1985 program was generally followed during 1986 1988. During that time, slight changes in the management effort occurred. The reasoning for the changes was to provide managers with information from which they could improve the program. Based on this experience and a renewed desire to improve marsh and water management efforts at Back Bay NWR, the Marsh and Water Management Plan was totally revised during FY 88. This program is the first annual program proposed within the framework of the new plan.